Safety fence design

ABSTRACT

In one example, a safety fence support system for a race track including a track wall positioned proximate an outer edge of the race track is described. The safety fence support system may include support members, an upper mount member, a lower mount member, a cable, and a catching member. The support members may include an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion. The support members may be positioned a predetermined distance from the catching member such that a support post impact avoidance zone is defined between the catching member and the intermediate portion of the support members. The catching member may be fencing, netting, or mesh and may extend between the upper and lower mount members and between the at least two support members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/840,103, filed on Apr. 29, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to safety fence support systems for race tracks and the like. In particular, the present disclosure relates to safety fence support systems including support members configured to support a catching member (e.g., fencing, netting, mesh, or the like) above a track wall installed at the track edge. More specifically, the safety fence support systems of the present disclosure include support members that are installed a predetermined distance away from the catching member, track edge, and/or track wall to form a “support post impact avoidance zone” between the catching member, track edge, and/or track wall (where the catching member extends upwardly therefrom) and the supports members that provide support for the catching member.

BACKGROUND

With conventional fencing systems employed around race tracks and the like, support posts are fixated at the immediate edge of the track and used to support fencing above the track wall (similar to the glass above the board of a hockey rink). As a consequence, when a car goes airborne and travels above the wall into the fencing, the car may contact the support posts due to the placement of the support posts at the immediate edge of the track. Upon impact with one of these posts, with the post serving as an inflexible axis, the car is susceptible to severe damage and disintegration due to impact with the post and/or violent rotation around the post. Impact with one of these posts can be very dangerous and potentially fatal.

As will be appreciated, it would be desirable to design safety fence support systems that offer better protection to drivers and spectators alike in the event of an accident resulting in the driver's vehicle becoming airborne and leaving the race track. As a result, the safety fence support systems of the present disclosure include support posts that are installed a predetermined distance away from the track edge to form a “support post impact avoidance zone” between the catching member, track edge, and/or track wall (where the catching member extends upwardly therefrom) and the supports members that provide support for the catching member. Such a safety fence design may desirably be used in place of track-side support posts, which are a hazard to drivers and spectators alike due to their placement, rigidity, inflexibility, and tendency to cause significant damage to the vehicle if it impacts the track-side support posts while airborne. Moving the support poles away from the outer edge of the track may provide greater flex, catching effect, and deceleration of the vehicle before the vehicle can contact the unforgiving support posts. Desirably, these aspects are accomplished in a manner that does not significantly detract from the ability of the drivers to perform or the spectators to view and in a manner that does not materially alter the operational features of the race track itself.

SUMMARY

In an example, a safety fence support system comprises support members, an upper mount member, a lower mount member, a cable, and a catching member. The safety fence support system may be configured for use with a race track. The race track may include a track wall. The track wall may be positioned proximate an outer edge of the race track.

The safety fence support system may comprise at least two support members. The support members may be spaced apart from one another. Each of the support members may include an upper portion. The upper portion of the support members may have an arcuate-shaped cross-section. The upper portion of the support members may also extend to a point positioned substantially directly above the outer edge of the race track. Each of the support members may also include a lower portion. The lower portion of the support members may be operatively connected to the track wall. The lower portion of the support members may have a substantially L-shaped cross-section. Each of the support members may further include an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion may extend between the upper and lower portions. The intermediate portion may be positioned a predetermined distance from the catching member such that a support post impact avoidance zone is defined between the catching member and the intermediate portion of each of the support members. The support members may be made of a rigid material.

In embodiments, there are no rigid structures positioned in the support post impact avoidance zone. The support post impact avoidance zone may have a dimension of from about 15 feet to about 20 feet (including a dimension of about 16 feet) as measured between the catching member and the intermediate portion of each of the support members.

The upper mount member may extend between each of the support members. The upper mount member may operatively interconnect the upper portions of the support members. The lower mount member may be spaced apart from the upper mount member. The upper mount member may be operatively connected to each of the support members (e.g., by welding, clamping, or the like, or any combination thereof). The lower mount member may be operatively connected to the track wall (e.g., by welding, clamping, or the like, or any combination thereof). In embodiments, there are no mount members positioned between the upper and lower mount members.

The safety fence support system may comprise one or more cables. The cable(s) may extend between the upper and lower mount members. The cable(s) may be configured to provide support for the catching member.

The catching member may extend between the upper and lower mount members. The catching member may also extend between the support members. The catching member may be made of a semi-flexible material. The catching member may be fencing, netting, mesh, or the like, or any combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description of the illustrative examples may be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It is understood that potential examples of the disclosed systems and methods are not limited to those depicted.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a safety fence support system according to one example; and

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the safety fence support system of FIG. 1 according to one example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative examples described in the detailed description and drawings are not meant to be limiting and are for explanatory purposes. Other examples may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, each of which are explicitly contemplated and form a part of this disclosure.

It should be noted that some of the terms used herein may be relative terms. For example, the terms “upper” and “lower” are relative to each other in location, i.e. an upper component is located at a higher elevation than a lower component in a given orientation, but these terms may change if the device is flipped. An intermediate component, on the other hand, is always located between an upper component and a lower component regardless of orientation. The terms “top” and “bottom” are used to refer to surfaces where the top is always higher than the bottom relative to an absolute reference, i.e. the surface of the earth. The terms “upwards” or “upwardly” and “downwards” or “downwardly” are also relative to an absolute reference; upwards is always against the gravity of the earth. The term “parallel” should be construed in its lay sense of two surfaces that maintain a generally constant distance between them, and not in the strict mathematical sense that such surfaces will never intersect when extended to infinity. The term “substantially” is intended to mean considerable in extent or largely but not necessarily wholly that which is specified. The terms “operative to” and “adapted to” and similar terms are used herein to describe that a particular component has certain structural features designed to perform a designated function. Such components should be construed as having the expressed structure, with the designated function being considered part of the structure. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” preceded the value or range.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more examples or that one or more examples necessarily include these features, elements and/or steps. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth.

It will be understood that reference herein to “a” or “one” to describe a feature such as a component or step does not foreclose additional features or multiples of the feature. For instance, reference to a device having or defining “one” of a feature does not preclude the device from having or defining more than one of the feature, as long as the device has or defines at least one of the feature. Similarly, reference herein to “one of” a plurality of features does not foreclose the inclusion of two or more, up to all, of the features. For instance, reference to a device having or defining “one of a X and Y” does not foreclose the device from having both the X and Y.

While conventional fencing systems employed around race tracks and the like have been adequate for their intended purposes, these fencing systems can be very dangerous and potentially fatal. Therefore, there exists a need for a safer fencing system, namely one in which an airborne car travelling above the race track wall and into the fencing is generally prevented from contacting any support posts.

The devices and systems of the present disclosure can be used in a variety of applications as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. By way of non-limiting example, it is contemplated that the foregoing may be used with any number of race tracks, motor sports facilities, motocross sidelines, motorcycle or car demonstrations, temporary street circuits, for boat or other water craft races or demonstrations, highways, sporting arenas (e.g., hockey rinks) or any other instance when fast moving or otherwise motorized vehicles may become airborne at high speeds or where the safety of drivers and spectators is of particular concern.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show side and front views, respectively, of an example system according to the present disclosure. In this exemplary embodiment, the system is a safety fence support system 100 for a race track 20. As seen, the race track 20 includes a track wall 22. The track wall 22 generally extends upwardly from the race track. In this exemplary embodiment, the track wall 22 is positioned proximate an outer edge 24 of the race track 20. This is a common setup in which drivers travel about the race track 20 inside of the track wall 22 while spectators watch from the opposite side of the track wall 22. Along with the track wall 22, the safety fence support system 100 generally separates the drivers and the race track 20 from the spectators.

In the exemplary embodiment of the safety fence support system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the safety fence support system 100 includes a plurality of (e.g., at least two) support members 110. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the safety fence support system 100 could include any number of support members 110 as may be desired or necessary to suit a particular application. As seen, the support members 110 are spaced apart from one another. The support members 110 are made of any suitable material for providing rigidity and structure to the system as will be described herein. Preferably the support members 110 are made of a rigid material. In particular, the support members 110 are generally constructed such that they are rigid and inflexible, which could cause significant damage to a vehicle if permitted to impact the support members 110. By way of non-limiting example, the support members 110 may be I-beams or tubular posts constructed of steel or another metal.

Each support member 110 generally includes an upper portion 114, a lower portion 118, and an intermediate portion 116. The intermediate portion 116 is positioned between and extends between the upper portion 114 and the lower portion 118. The intermediate portion 116 has a generally planar cross-section. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the upper portion 114 of each support member 110 may have an arcuate-shaped cross section. Put another way, the upper portion 114 of each support member 110 may be curved from the point at which the upper portion 114 meets the intermediate portion 116 and toward the race track 20. In this regard, the upper portion 114 of each support member 110 may extend from the intermediate portion 116 to a point positioned substantially directly above the outer edge 24 of the race track 20. The lower portion 118 of each support member 110 may be operatively connected to the track wall 22. The lower portion 118 of each support member 110 may be operatively connected to the track wall 22 by any suitable means. By way of non-limiting example, the lower portion 118 of each support member 110 may be clamped or otherwise fastened to the track wall 22. In other embodiments, and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the lower portion 118 of each support member 110 may be positioned within (e.g., inset within) the track wall 22. In embodiments, the lower portion 118 of each support member 110 may have a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The L-shaped lower portion 118 of each support member 110 may be integrally formed with the track wall 22, such as, by way of non-limiting example, forming track wall 22 (e.g., with cement or concrete) about the lower portion 118 of each support member 110. In other embodiments, such as for temporary street circuits, the lower portion 118 of each support member 110 may instead be attached to the bottom of the track wall 22 and/or the track wall 22 may be positioned on top of the lower portion 118 of each support member 110 so as to retain the support member 110 in place.

With continued reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the safety fence support system 100 also includes an upper mount member 120 and a lower mount member 130 spaced apart from one another. In this exemplary embodiment, the upper mount member 120 extends between the support members 110. In embodiments, a single upper mount member 120 may extend between two or more adjacent support members 110. The upper mount member 120 of this embodiment operatively interconnects the upper portions 114 of the two illustrated support members 110. The upper mount member 120 may be connected to the support members 110 by any suitable means. By way of non-limiting example, the upper mount member 120 may be connected to the support members 110 by welding, clamping, or the like. The upper mount member 120 may be configured to serve as the attachment point for the upper edge of the catching member 150.

The lower mount member 130 may be operatively connected to the track wall 22. The lower mount member 130 is spaced apart from the upper mount member 120, and the upper and lower mount members 120, 130 may generally extend laterally and substantially parallel to one another. In particular, the lower mount member 130 may extend laterally along a top edge of the track wall 22. The lower mount member 130 may be connected to the track wall 22 by any suitable means. By way of non-limiting example, the lower mount member 130 may be connected to the track wall 22 by clamping, insetting of the lower mount member 130 into the track wall 22, or the like. The lower mount member 130 may be configured to serve as the attachment point for the lower edge of the catching member 150.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the safety fence support system 100 further includes a catching member 150. The catching member 150 generally extends between the upper mount member 120 and the lower mount member 130. The catching member further generally extends between the support members 110. In this way, the catching member 150 generally spans the entirety of the area between the track wall 22 and the upper portions 114 of the support members 110. The catching member 150 may be operatively connected to each of the upper mount member 120, the lower mount member 130, and the support members 110 by any suitable means, such as, by way of non-limiting example, welding, clamping, or fastening. The catching member 150 is preferably constructed from a material that is at least semi-flexible with respect to the support members 110 and the upper and lower mount members 120, 130. More preferably, the catching member 150 may be made of a material with sufficient strength properties to provide some flex for an airborne vehicle while still providing sufficient safety for spectators positioned behind the catching member 150. In this way, the few moments of flex in the catching member 150 (with the rigid support members 110 firmly in place) may provide some deceleration of the vehicle before it deflects back onto the race track, which is helpful in increasing the safety of the driver, other drivers, and spectators alike. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the catching member 150 is fencing. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other materials could be used that preferably provide the aforementioned benefits. By way of further non-limiting example, the catching member 150 could be fencing, netting, mesh, or the like.

Further, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the safety fence support system 100 further at least one cable 140. In embodiments, a single cable 140 may be employed and may generally extend between the upper mount member 120 and the lower mount member 130 any desired number of times. By way of non-limiting example, it is contemplated that a single cable could be woven through, threaded through, or wrapped about the upper and lower mount members 120, 130 multiple times in a continuous fashion (e.g., similar to a shoelace). In other embodiments, a plurality of cables 140 may be employed and may each generally extend between the upper mount member 120 and the lower mount member 130. In some embodiments, the cable(s) 140 may be operatively connected to each of the upper mount member 120 and the lower mount member 130 by any suitable means, such as, by way of non-limiting example, welding, clamping, or fastening. In other embodiments, the cable(s) 140 may interface with each of the upper mount member 120 and the lower mount member 130 by any suitable means, such as, by way of non-limiting example, being wrapped around or woven or threaded through the upper and lower mount members 120, 130 (e.g., by being passed through eyelets therein). The cable(s) 140 may be configured to provide additional support for the catching member 150. In particular, the cable(s) 140 may preferably be constructed from a material that is at least semi-flexible with respect to the support members 110 and the upper and lower mount members 120, 130. More preferably, the cable(s) 140 may be made of a material with sufficient strength properties to provide some flex for an airborne vehicle while still providing sufficient safety for spectators positioned behind the cable(s) 140 and catching member 150.

The intermediate portion 116 of each support member 110 is positioned a predetermined distance from the catching member 150. In this way, a support post impact avoidance zone 112 is defined between the intermediate portion 116 of each support member 110 and the catching member 150 and/or the track wall 22. As further described herein, the support post impact avoidance zone 112 generally achieves the objective of the present disclosure of providing a safer experience for race track drivers and spectators alike. In particular, the support post impact avoidance zone 112 is preferably constructed such that there are no rigid structures positioned within the support post impact avoidance zone 112. For example, as readily seen in FIG. 1, the support post impact avoidance zone 112 is devoid of any rigid or “unforgiving” (i.e., non-flexible) structures positioned between the catching member 150 and the intermediate portion 116 of the illustrated support member 110. This further increases the safety for the drivers and spectators alike by eliminating dangerous and rigid elements from the support post impact avoidance zone 112. As will now be appreciated, the support post impact avoidance zone 112 is generally devoid of any rigid structures so as to improve safety for drivers and spectators alike. In particular, as can be best seen in FIG. 1, there are no mount members positioned between the upper mount member 120 and the lower mount member 130. Further, as can be best seen in FIG. 1, there are advantageously no mount members positioned within the support post impact avoidance zone 112.

As described above, the support members 110 are designed to be spaced away from the outer edge 24 of the race track 20 so as to remove the support members 110 from the support post impact avoidance zone 112 and significantly lessen the chance of contact with the rigid support member 110 by an airborne vehicle. As described above, this creates a support post impact avoidance zone 112 between the intermediate portions 116 of the support members 110 and the catching member 150 and/or the track wall 22. The support members 110 may be spaced any desired distance from the catching member 150 so as to create any desired size of support post impact avoidance zone 112 as may be desired or necessary for a particular application. In exemplary embodiments described herein, the support post impact avoidance zone 112 may have a dimension of from about 15 feet to about 20 feet as measured between the catching member 150 and the intermediate portion 116 of each support member 110. In more specific embodiments, the support post impact avoidance zone 112 may have a dimension of about 16 feet as measured between the catching member 150 and the intermediate portion 116 of each support member 110. It has been found that these dimensions are particularly suited to achieve the objects of the present disclosure, including increasing safety for drivers and spectators alike without unnecessarily limiting the view of the spectators. Additionally, these dimensions are particularly suited to be usable with existing race tracks, such that the support members can be installed in the existing area between the outer edge of the race track or track wall and the spectators.

As will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art, while the devices and systems of the present disclosure have been described with particular reference to use with a race track, the present disclosure is additionally particularly advantageous for other applications when fast moving or otherwise motorized vehicles may become airborne at high speeds or where the safety of drivers and spectators is of particular concern.

While certain configurations of structures have been illustrated for the purposes of presenting the basic structures of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other variations are possible which would still fall within the scope of the appended claims. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosure in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Indeed, the novel devices and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the devices and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed:
 1. A safety fence support system for a race track including a track wall positioned proximate an outer edge of the race track, the safety fence support system comprising: at least two support members spaced apart from one another, each of the at least two support members including an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the upper and lower portions; an upper mount member extending between each of the at least two support members and operatively interconnecting the upper portions of the at least two support members; a lower mount member spaced apart from the upper mount member; at least one cable extending between the upper and lower mount members; and a catching member extending between the upper and lower mount members and between the at least two support members, wherein the at least two support members are positioned a predetermined distance from the catching member such that a support post impact avoidance zone is defined between the catching member and the intermediate portion of each of the at least two support members.
 2. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein the catching member is made of a semi-flexible material.
 3. The safety fence support system of claim 2, wherein the catching member is selected from the group consisting of fencing, netting, and mesh.
 4. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two support members is made of a rigid material.
 5. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein the upper mount member is operatively connected to each of the at least two support members and the lower mount member is operatively connected to the track wall.
 6. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein there are no mount members positioned between the upper and lower mount members.
 7. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein there are no rigid structures positioned within the support post impact avoidance zone.
 8. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein the upper mount member is operatively connected to each of the at least two support members by at least one of welding and clamping.
 9. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein the support post impact avoidance zone has a dimension of from about 15 feet to about 20 feet as measured between the catching member and the intermediate portion of each of the at least two support members.
 10. The safety fence support system of claim 9, wherein the support post impact avoidance zone has a dimension of about 16 feet as measured between the catching member and the intermediate portion of each of the at least two support members.
 11. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of each of the at least two support members has an arcuate-shaped cross-section and extends to a point positioned substantially directly above the outer edge of the race track.
 12. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of each of the at least two support members is operatively connected to the track wall.
 13. The safety fence support system of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of each of the at least two support members has a substantially L-shaped cross-section.
 14. A safety fence support system for a race track including a track wall positioned proximate an outer edge of the race track, the safety fence support system comprising: at least two support members spaced apart from one another, each of the at least two support members including an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion of each of the at least two support members has an arcuate-shaped cross-section; and a catching member extending between the at least two support members, wherein the at least two support members are positioned a predetermined distance from the catching member such that a support post impact avoidance zone is defined between the catching member and the intermediate portion of each of the at least two support members.
 15. The safety fence support system of claim 14, wherein there are no rigid structures positioned within the support post impact avoidance zone.
 16. The safety fence support system of claim 14, wherein the support post impact avoidance zone has a dimension of from about 15 feet to about 20 feet as measured between the catching member and the intermediate portion of each of the at least two support members.
 17. The safety fence support system of claim 14, wherein the upper portion of each of the at least two support members extends to a point positioned substantially directly above the outer edge of the race track.
 18. The safety fence support system of claim 14, wherein the bottom portion of each of the at least two support members is operatively connected to the track wall.
 19. The safety fence support system of claim 14, wherein the bottom portion of each of the at least two support members has a substantially L-shaped cross-section.
 20. A safety fence support system for a race track including a track wall positioned proximate an outer edge of the race track, the safety fence support system comprising: at least two support members spaced apart from one another, each of the at least two support members including an upper portion having an arcuate-shaped cross-section, a lower portion operatively connected to the track wall, and an intermediate portion extending between the upper and lower portions; and a catching member extending between the at least two support members, wherein the at least two support members are positioned a predetermined distance from the catching member such that a support post impact avoidance zone is defined between the catching member and the intermediate portion, the impact avoidance zone having a dimension of from about 15 feet to about 20 feet as measured between the catching member and the intermediate portion, wherein there are no rigid structures positioned within the support post impact avoidance zone 